How to Write Your Dissertation / Thesis FAST! | Everything I Wish I Knew 📝

TL;DR

Jade shares essential advice on effectively writing an undergraduate thesis.

Transcript

foreign in Taipei if you've been following me since I was 17 and doing my a levels then it might come as a surprise to you that I have just submitted my undergraduate thesis yes I just submitted the first big draft of my dissertation I'm now going to receive feedback from my supervisor so that I can iterate it for the big final deadline in April cr... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🔬 Selecting a topic of genuine interest is crucial for a successful thesis experience, as it ensures sustained engagement through research.
• 😫 Early planning and organization are essential; Jade stresses the need to set clear goals and maintain a structured research system for efficiency.
• 📜 Utilizing organizational tools like Notion and Zotero can streamline the process by keeping references, feedback, and documents easily accessible.
• ❓ Actively seeking and incorporating feedback from supervisors fosters a better understanding and refinement of the thesis.
• ✍️ Regular accountability partnerships can be beneficial, providing structure and motivation in the often isolating process of thesis writing.
• 💦 Incremental progress and working in manageable segments can greatly reduce the anxiety associated with large projects like dissertations.
• 👨‍🔬 Engaging with scholarly articles and identifying gaps in the research is important for establishing a well-rounded thesis.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired Jade to study cognitive science?

Jade's passion for understanding how humans learn has driven her interest in cognitive science since high school. She appreciates its interdisciplinary nature, combining psychology, neuroscience, and computer science, allowing her to delve into topics surrounding memory, learning processes, and educational systems.

Q: How did Jade approach topic selection for her thesis?

Jade emphasizes the importance of selecting a topic that genuinely interests the student, as this will make the research and writing process more enjoyable and manageable. She suggests reflecting on favorite lectures and personal reading habits to find a topic that aligns with one's interests.

Q: What organizational tools does Jade recommend for thesis writing?

Jade prefers using Notion for organization, where she structures her research notes, feedback, task goals, and references. She also recommends Zotero for managing scholarly articles, allowing easy access to citations, which can save significant time when compiling the thesis.

Q: How does Jade suggest handling feedback from supervisors?

Jade encourages students to actively seek feedback from their supervisors throughout the writing process. She found that being proactive in seeking guidance helped her refine her work and develop a good working relationship with her supervisor, enhancing the overall experience.

Q: What is the benefit of creating an accountability partnership, according to Jade?

Jade highlights that having an accountability partner can significantly boost productivity. By regularly meeting to discuss progress, it encourages consistency and commitment to deadlines, making the writing process feel less isolating and more structured.

Q: What writing techniques does Jade recommend?

Jade advocates for techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, which helps maintain focus by breaking work into intervals with short breaks. She emphasizes the importance of steady, incremental progress on the thesis to reduce overwhelm and ensure manageable workload.

Q: How does Jade perceive the thesis writing experience compared to writing a book?

Jade finds writing her thesis less stressful than writing a book, as many of her peers are concurrently working on their theses, creating a communal atmosphere. This collective experience adds motivation and support that she did not have while writing her book.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Jade recently submitted her undergraduate thesis in cognitive science, emphasizing the challenges and learning experiences involved in the process.

• She highlights the importance of choosing a topic that genuinely interests you and suggests ways to streamline the planning and research phases of thesis writing.

• Jade advocates for maintaining organization through proper planning and utilizing tools like Notion and Zotero to manage references and feedback from supervisors.